Wheelchair footplate cover cushion

ABSTRACT

A wheelchair includes a pair of footrests. Each footrest is provided with a cover cushion formed from a length of flexible and resilient carpet material including two sheets secured along their opposite side edges to form an enclosure having a pocket in which the plate of the footrest is received. A strap having a Velcro fastener extends from one of the sheets over the pivotal end of the footplate for detachable engagement with the other sheet of material. The area of the sheets of material is greater than the area of the footplate to provide a cushioning margin along the side edges of the footplate.

[ Nov. 19, 1974 3,220,767 11/1965 Hendrickson................v...... 297/219 3,792,897 2/1974 297/219 Primary ExaminerFrancis K. Zugel Attorney, Agent, or FirmZarley, McKee, Thomte & Voorhees 57. ABSTRACT A wheelchair includes a pair of footrests. Each footrest is provided with a cover cushion formed from a length of flexible and resilient carpet material including two sheets secured along their opposite side edges to form an enclosure having a pocket in which the plate of the footrest is received. A strap having a Velcro fastener extends from one of the sheets over the pivotal end of the footplate for detachable engage- CUSHION [76] Inventor: Royal D. Blanford, 437 E. 6th St.,

Ames, Iowa 50010 Nov. 21, 1973 Appl. No.: 418,089

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS United States Patent [191 Blanford WHEELCHAIR FOOTPLATE COVER [22 Filed:

[58] Field of Search e 6 hmd t .1 frm 0 e h am r g a m e a h l s Tm m L zm W a .I .w m F nm 3 a .m m w m m A two D C m CR 6 m wm s, r m a m 1 m. m e e l OJUGW C ew wf 9 Oe n pe .H f w El S n m m e mSpe 0 3 3 6 2826494 l 7 7 7 7 9/9/9/9 2727 272 .9 .9 .9. 2 2 2 nns n v n mm a m mm bw n .m fln enwwl mamze w aaha BACLMRM 1 07233 2245666 9999999 wwwmuww 96079 5 85830002 2935 006 118270 3 ,9 22333 WHEELCHAIR FOOTPLATE COVER CUSHION The footrest on a conventional wheelchair presents several problems to the user of the wheelchair. When the footrests are folded upwardly for the user to enter or leave the chair sharp edges on the bottom sides of the footplates may cause injury to the feet and legs of the user. The footplates are normally made from metal and if the user is in his bear feet contact with the footplates will be an unpleasant experience due to the feeling of coldness received from the footplates. Furthermore, operation of the wheelchair can cause damage to furniture, walls and other wheelchair operators due to the fact that the footplates protrude forwardly of the chair and they gouge anything that gets in the way.

The footplate cover cushion of this invention is so designed to protect the user from injury from the footrest and protects things in the way of the wheelchair from being damaged. Moreover, the footplate cover cushion is comfortable to the users feet. It is also readily removed from the footplate for laundering purposes.

The two sheets of material forming the enclosure which embraces the footplate are preferably made larger in area than the area of the footplate such that side margins are provided which function as cushions when contact is made along the side edges of the footplate. A strap having a Velcro fastener on it extends from one of the sheets of material over the pivotal end of the footplate and back into engagement with the other sheet of material for detachably securing the cover cushion to the footplate.

This invention consists in the construction, arrangements and combination of the various parts of the device, whereby the objects contemplated are attained as hereinafter more fully set forth, specifically pointed out in the claims, and illustrated in the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a wheelchair equipped with the footplate cover cushions of this invention.

FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of a footrest and the cover cushion.

FIG. 3 is a view similar to FIG. 2 but showing the cover cushion mounted on the footplate.

FIG. 4 is a reduced in scale view similar to FIG. 3 but with the footplate pivoted to a vertical position.

FIG. 5 is a cross sectional view taken along line 5 5 in FIG. 3, and

FIG. 6 is a cross sectional view taken along line 6 6 in FIG. 3.

The footplate cover cushion of this invention is referred to generally in FIG. 2 by the reference numeral 10 and is shown in FIG. 1 on a wheelchair 12 having 7 footrests 14.

The footrests 14 each include a vertically disposed rod support member 16 having brace portions 18 and 20 engaging the frame 22 of the chair 12. The vertical member 16 includes a telescopic portion 24 at its lower end adjustably held by a clamp fastener 26. A-horizontally extending shaft 28 extends from the telescopic I portion 24 and includes a cap 30 at its outer end. A metal footplate 32 is provided with a pivot sleeve 34 on the top side at the pivotal end thereof. The pivot shaft 28 extends through the sleeve 34 to allow the pivotal plate to pivot from the horizontal position of FIG. 1 to a vertical up or down position as seen in FIG. 4.

The footplate cover cushion 10 is formed from a length of carpet material which provides two sheets 36 and 38 extending over the top and bottom sides of the footplate 32. The side edges of the sheets of material 36 and 38 are secured together by seams 40. The bottom sheet of material 38 is substantially coextensive in area with the bottom side of the footplate 32 while the top sheet of material 36 extends lengthwise toclosely adjacent the sleeve 34. A fastening strap 42 is secured to the top sheet 36 and is adapted to extend over the sleeve 34 and back into engagement with the bottom sheet 38 for detachably securing the cover to the footplate as seen in FIG. 5. A Velcro element 43 on the outer free end of the strap has hooks which engage the loops in the carpeted bottom sheet 38.

The width of the sheets 36 and 38 is preferably greater than the width of the footplate'32 such that as seen in FIG. 6 marginal cushioning edges 48 are provided along the front and rear edges of the footplate 32. Thus it is seen that the footplate cover includes an enclosure 50 in which the footplate 32 is received and contact with the footplate 32, intentional or otherwise, is cushioned by the footplate cover cushion. This cushioning is particularly enhanced along the forward and rear side edges wherein the marginal cushions 48 extend laterally outwardly from the side edges of the footplate 32.

The footplate cover cushion may be readily removed for laundering purposes and since it is made from indoor-outdoor type carpeting it may be readily washed and returned to use in a short period of time. The oversizing of the cover along'the side edges allows the cover to be -used on a variety of different sized footplates thereby making it necessary only to have one cover cushion available for use on different make and style wheelchairs. Thus, in use it is seen that all that is required-is to merely slip the'cover cushion onto the footplate 32 in the manner that a glove would be fitted onto a persons hand. The strap 42 is extended over the pivotal end of the footplate for locking engagement through the Velcro fastener with the bottom side of the cover cushion. Removal of the cover cushion is readily accomplished by disengaging the strap 42 from the bottom sheet of carpet material.

I claim:

1. A wheelchair comprising,

a frame having wheels,

a pair of footrests on said frame,

each footrest including a substantially vertically disposed support member, and a footplate pivoted to said vertical member for pivotal movement about a horizontal axis between a first position extending horizontally inwardly to a second position extending vertically, and

a cover cushion detachably positioned on said footplate and including an enclosure openat only one end and in communication with a pocket in said enclosure, the free end of said footplate being positioned in said pocket, and a fastening means extending from one side of said enclosure over said pivotal end of said footplate into engagement with the opposite side of said enclosure.

2. The structure of claim 1 wherein said enclosure is further defined as including two sheets of material secured together along adjacent side edges and along the adjacent edges of the end opposite said open end.

3. The structure of claim 2 wherein said sheets of material are larger in area than the area of said footplate thereby providing a cushioning margin along the side edges of said footplate.

4. The structure of claim 3 wherein said sheets of material are flexible and resilient to allow resilient deflection of the edges of the enclosure.

5. The structure of claim 4 wherein said sheets of material are defined as being formed from carpet material.

6. The structure of claim 5 wherein said carpet material is further defined as including a rubber backing.

7. The structure of claim 4 wherein said footplate includes a sleeve on the top side thereof at its pivotal end mounted on a shaft extending from said vertical support member and the sheet of material on the top side loops in the other sheet of material. 

1. A wheelchair comprising, a frame having wheels, a pair of footrests on said frame, each footrest including a substantially vertically disposed support member, and a footplate pivoted to said vertical member for pivotal movement about a horizontal axis between a first position extending horizontally inwardly to a second position extending vertically, and a cover cushion detachably positioned on said footplate and including an enclosure open at only one end and in communication with a pocket in said enclosure, the free end of said footplate being positioned in said pocket, and a fastening means extending from one side of said enclosure over said pivotal end of said footplate into engagement with the opposite side of said enclosure.
 2. The structure of claim 1 wherein said enclosure is further defined as including two sheets of material secured together along adjacent side edges and along the adjacent edges of the end opposite said open end.
 3. The structure of claim 2 wherein said sheets of material are larger in area than the area of said footplate thereby providing a cushioning margin along the side edges of said footplate.
 4. The structure of claim 3 wherein said sheets of material are flexible and resilient to allow resilient deflection of the edges of the enclosure.
 5. The structure of claim 4 wherein said sheets of material are defined as being formed from carpet material.
 6. The structure of claim 5 wherein said carpet material is further defined as including a rubber backing.
 7. The structure of claim 4 wherein said footplate includes a sleeve on the top side thereof at its pivotal end mounted on a shaft extending from said vertical support member and the sheet of material on the top side of said footplate extends to said sleeve with said bottom sheet extending the substantial length of said footplate along its bottom side.
 8. The structure of claim 7 wherein said fastening means includes a strap secured to one of said sheets of material and extends over said sleeve and into detachable engagement with said other sheet of material.
 9. The structure of claim 8 wherein said strap includes hook elements on its outer free end for engaging loops in the other sheet of material. 